31.08.

1914: Why was St. Petersburg Renamed Petrograd?

Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/View from the Colonnade, St. Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg

Story Highlights

Historical event

31 August 1914

Germany and Russia entered World War I in 1914 (they were opponents). The Russian Empire wanted to avoid the German name of its capital.

The Russian capital of St. Petersburg was renamed Petrograd on this day in 1914.

The Russian Empire wanted to avoid the German name of its capital (the name of Saint Petersburg had been used since the time of Peter the Great).

A month before that, Germany and Russia entered World War I.

It is interesting to note that the similar change was made in the UK during World War I. The former British ruling dynasty bore the German name of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, after Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s husband).

The British King George V wanted to avoid German associations, and changed the dynasty’s name. The dynasty was renamed Windsor.